Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21180, Elihu Geer, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
born
Geer, Elihu Eleanor
N 21180
CONTENTS

269 Connecticut
Eleanor Yeer of Hartford Co in the State of Ct who was a com in the commanded by Captain Abby of the commanded by in the line for widow of Elisha Yeer dec. late a Private & Sergeant in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 24 Dollars 89 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Nov. 1836 and sent to Miss Charlton East Windsor Ct
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1836 $301.89 Pemi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 37 27.44 $329.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. A. Johnson Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 Page 78
1891 July 3 Esq's history Prior
Examined with Orig. Rolle Aug. 1883 M. G.

State of Connecticut } Hartford County } ss Hartford
On this 26 th day of September A 1836 personally appeared before the court of Probate for the District of Hartford in Hartford County Widow Eleanor Geer now a resident of Manchester in sd Hartford County aged 79 years a credible person who being duly sworn according to law doth on oath declare That she is the Widow of Elisha Geer late of Enfield in the County of Hartford & State aforesaid who was a Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution. He the said Elisha Geer volunteered a few days after the Battle of Lexington in April 1775, The alarm reached sd Enfield during divine service on the Sabbath day and Ensign Kibbee beat a drum at the door of the Meeting house for volunteers and her husband was the first man who volunteered & they marched, (I think the next day, and staid; what number of days she can not exactly say, but will endeavor to shew by proof. She believes he was out the second time during the year 1775 but has not been able to find any surviving witnesses.
In the year 1776 he performed a tour of duty in the company of Capt Hezekiah Parsons of Enfield & went to New York and Long Island Deacon Ebenezer Bryant will certify the fact the period of time I have understood to be seven months
And again about the 1 st of May 1777 He joined the army under Capt Thomas Abbey and went to New York and served for a long period viz for the term of three years, She has found one surviving witness who was with him eight months of this period, and whose testimony she hopes will be allowed to support the claim of the further period for it seems to her that he was gone almost all the war William Chaffee enlisted 7.11 S. a. m. l.

and went away with Elisha Geer & served with him or in the same Brigade when the attack was made on Stoney Point; & Mrs Chaffee was one of the forlorn hope in that attack as she was informed by sd Chaffee & by her husband, Mr Chaffee is dead, and in enquiring after proof in sd Enfield she learns that four pensioners died in Enfield the last year sd William Chaffee was a pensioner several years ago, & she requests that his declaration and proof may be examined in the hope that it may shed light upon her case; she claims that her husband was a Sergeant during his several tours and they all amount to more than two years. She was married to her said husband Elisha Geer at sd Enfield by the Rev Elam Potter, on the 10 th day of December 1774, a Certificate of which will accompany the declaration her said husband died at sd Enfield on the 11 th day of May 1801.
That she remains the widow of said Elisha Geer and has never again married. It is so long since these periods of service that she can not be more exact as to time. His Sergeant's warrant she has often seen, but it has been lost several years; & she has no documentary evidence.
Eleanor Geer
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before said Court of Probate.
Mark Henry Seymour Clerk

And the said Court hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & putting all the prescribed interrogatories That the said Elisha Geer was a revolutionary Soldier and that Mrs Eleanor Geer is the surviving Widow of the said Geer, & that he died at Enfield on the eleventh day of May 1801.
I Henry Seymour Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford in said Hartford County hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of the Widow Eleanor Geer of Manchester in said Hartford County for a pension, And I further certify that Geer Jerry Esq before whom the Affidavit of Rufus Bush was taken was at the time of taking said affidavit and is at this time a lawful Justice of the County of Hartford & the signature purporting to be his is his genuine Signature And I further certify that George W Cheney Esq before whom the Affidavit of Deacon Ebenezer Brant was taken was at the time of taking said Affidavit & is at this time a lawful Justice of the Peace for said Hartford County and that the Signature purporting to be his is his genuine Signature, And that William Duxon Esq is town Clerk of the town of Enfield in said Hartford County a gentleman well known to this Court & that the Signature purporting to be his is his genuine Signature
In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my name and the Seal of said Probate

Court this 26 th day of September A 1836
Attest Henry Seymour C. M. Henry Seymour
Notes from Application

"Elihu Geer & Eleanor M c Cester married December 10 th 1774"
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Record of Marriages in the Town of Suffield in Hartford County, - Examined by me this 9 th Day of November 1836 W m Dixon Town Clerk
Hartford County ss. Suffield November 9 th A. D. 1836, Personally appeared William Dixon, the subscriber of the foregoing Certificate and made Oath to the truth of the same, before me Geer Ferry Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut } ss Hartford. Hartford County }
I Henry Seymour Clerk of the Probate Court for the district of Hartford in said Hartford County, hereby certify that Geer Ferry Esq, whose signature is given above, before whom the certificate of William Dixon Town Clerk of Suffield in Hartford County was sworn to, is a lawful Justice of the Peace for said Hartford County, & has been for more than four months last past, & that the above signature purporting to be his is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Probate Court this 16 th day of November A 1836.
Attest Henry Seymour Clerk

10 174 384
Ebenezer Geer
W. 21180
Mar d at Enfield Nov r Dec 10. 1774 to Eleanor (when living in family of Chauncy Bryant) Mc Glesler who applied for pension Sept 1836 from Manchester, Conn s Aged 79 years - He died in Enfield May 11. 1801 - She lived in E Windsor & Manchester
The alarm of hostilities April 19. 1775 reached Enfield during service on the Sabbath day & Ensign Kebbee beat the drum at the meetinghouse door for Volunteers of whom Geer was the first to volunteer one, marched the next day for Boston
In 1776 he served as Sergeant under Capt. Hoz. Keap Parsons, 4 Col. Wylllys went to New York & Long Island. Stationed on Governor's Island until driven off by British
About May 1. 1777 he joined the army under Capt. Thos. A. Bee Colony of Conn after 3 years joined the army in N.Y. Stony Point

Rep WIDOW, &c.
File No. 21180
Eleanor Geer
Widow of
Elizur Geer
Sergt Penn War
Act _____
Index: Vol. 4 , Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Widow Geer
Letter
5 4 h h 27 27 301 59

East Windsor Oct 5 th A 1836
Sir I herewith transmit the papers of Widow Eleanor Geer of Manchester in Hartford County for a Pension under the 3 rd Section of the act of July 4 th A 1836
Judge Pease of Enfield who has been at Washington on Pension business expresses the opinion or rather his recollection that he has seen the name of Elihu Geer on the Rolls of the Regular Army.
Mrs Geer's impression is that it was in Gen Parsons Brigade, her impressions after the lapse of so many years may not be correct in regard to the Brigade, but I trust it will be found.
Deacon Bryant is undoubtedly correct in regard to his being a Sergeant in the Campaign at New York in 1776. The testimony respecting the Services in 1777 does not prove him to have been any other than a private Soldier if you find his name on the Roll this will determine in regard to the Rank.
Respectfully yours
Jesse Shurton James L Edsards Esq.

East Windsor } November 12 th Connecticut } 18 th
Sir The reason why I sent the town clerks certificate at first without the justice and secretarys signature was this.
Town clerks in Conn o are sworn annually when they enter on the duties of their office, and after that during the year copies given by them attested as true copies are received by our courts of justice without any further certificate than their own. They therefore, viz W m Dixon Esq in this case, & James Moore town clerk of East Windsor in Stephen Lord's case, on my applying to them for further action in their certificates expressed that it was a need requisition that their certificates had always been received before, without any thing more than their own attestation, as their certified copies were always given under the oath first taken. I wish not to delay or embarrass the business by imperfect documents
Yours your Obed Serv t J L Edwards Esq Com. Purser Joseph G. Harrington

Comptrollers
Certificate for
Mrs Green

Comptrollers Office Hartford Connecticut Sept 26th 1836
I certify that the name of Capt Hosechia Parsons appears on the Pay table Books now in this office and he is credited Jan y 12th 1776 By amount of his account rendered for Pay Roll £1902-4-10-11
The name of Capt Thomas Abby also appears on the same books and he is named as belong- -ing to Col Wyllys Battalion and is credited By Account Rendered £887-9-4- date Feb y 13th 1783, His account of Debit for £871-7-10 was made for Ordus on Treasurers Blankets Received & Wm Field Comptroller
I further certify that I know of no documents in this office to prove the length of time which the officers named in the foregoing certificate served in the Revolutionary War
Wm Field Comptroller

Town clerk
certificate
Enfield
No. 364
Off att
Ent 16 May 1777 Capt. Abbes Compt
Ex 1 st Jan 1778 - 7 mo 14 days
13 14 days
Admitted
Sergeant 6 mo
Private 7 mo
13 14
30
23 33
156
54.89
Jose Churton Esq. East Windsor Conn.
Jose Churton Esq.
East Windsor
Conn.

Ebenezer Geer & Eleanor M. Chester married December 10. th 1774 "
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of Record of Marriages in the Town of Sheffield examined by me this 23 rd Day of September A.D. 1836 Wm Dixon, Town Clerk
D. Sir - I cannot find any Record of the Death of Ebenezer Geer - The Records of Deaths before Mr. Robbins are very defective. -
Yrs respectfully Wm Dixon
Yours & Wm Dixon

State of Connecticut Hartford County } ss Manchester
On this 21 st day of September 1836 personal ly appeared before me Geo W. Church  Esq Justice of the peace for Hartford County Deacon Ebenezer Brant of Manchester in said Hartford County Aged 92 years a credible person who being first duly sworn according to law declares on oath that he was well acquainted with Sergeant Elihu Geer formerly of Enfield in said State that he served with him in the army in the Revolutionary war I belonged to Capt Jonathan Burgess company of Bolton in said state says the deponent and Mr Elihu Geer aforesaid was a Sergeant in Capt Nehemiah Parsons company of Enfield aforesaid our company marched from Hartford thro New Haven to Stratford and from there he says they went by water to New York & was stationed part of the time on Govern ors Island when the British got possession of Long Island & the fired upon us but we got away while they were firing briskly upon us they wounded one or more of our men but I think did not kill any of them. here, in this campaign I often saw Ser geant Geer we used to call him the old sergeant tho he was younger than I said the deponent he was a very steady man and very much devoted to the service I served in this tour says the deponent six months It was I think in the year 1776 the month & day of the month he can not specify & when he come away he left Sergeant Geer in the service but how long he staid after that period he does not know he has heard Mr Geer served

almost thro the War but cannot testify to any other period of service than the campaign at New York and not to the whole period of Serjt Geers services there as he left him there in the Army as he has before stated I have been acquainted with the widow of the said Serjeant Geer as many as twenty eight years after the death of her husband she removed from Enfield & has lived part of the time in Manchester & part of the time in East Windsor adjoining & both in said Hartford County ever since
Elenezer Bryant
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid and the alteration of the figure in the 1776 was before the signing & oath and also the erasure of John Meather. Before me Geo. W. Cheney, Just. Peace.
Elenezer Bryant

Chauncey Bryant certif. for Widow Gurn

State of Connecticut Hartford County ss Hartford
On this 26 th day of September A 1836
Personally appeared before the court of Probate for the District of Hartford in said Hartford County Chauncy Bryant a resident of Manchester in said County Aged 52 years a Credible person who being first duly sworn according to law doth on oath declare that he well acquainted with the widow Eleanor Geer a resident of said Manchester That she is the widow of Elihu Geer a Soldier of the Revolution who died at Enfield in said Hartford County thirty five years ago. The said Widow Eleanor Geer has lived in my family she still remains the widow of the said Elihu Geer and has never again married.
Chauncy Bryant
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before said court of probate In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of the said court of probate on the day and year above mentioned.
Attest Henry Seymour clk

State of Connecticut } Hartford County } ss Enfield
In this 20 th day of September A D 1836 personally appeared before me Geer Jerry Esq Justice of the Peace for Hartford County
Rufus Bush a resident of said Enfield aged 82 years a credible person who being at first duly sworn according to law doth on oath declare,
That he was well acquainted with Elihu Geer formerly of said Enfield that he served with him in the Revolutionary War in a company commanded by Capt Thomas Hovey then of said Enfield who is now dead he enlisted the 1 st of May 1777 with 5 others who are now all dead he marched from said Enfield to Middletown & New Haven & from there to Horse neck from there to Peekskill here we had order to join Gen Washington in New Jerseys we went down into the Jerseys in the month of June and staid till July, then back to the North River we had several removes on the River till August when a party was called for to go on a Scout they wanted 600 men I volunteered we marched to Stratford & from there crossed over to Long Island in the night the enemy fired on us from a fortification Swivel Ball wounded a Lieut in the shoulder we recrossed next day a march back to White plains where the Brigade lay Gen Putnam was on the lines with but Gen Parsons went over with us.
After we returned to Peekskill Elihu Geer with whom I had been well acquainted from my Childhood came down to the camp having enlisted as he told me himself for three years he came down with William Chaffe another neighbor who enlisted at the same time & who drew a pension several
Deacon Beman Mrs Geer

years before he died Elihu Geer served in the Company as long as I staid and I left him in the service when I was discharged & I heard from him a number of times while he was in the service after I left & I have not the least doubt that he served his time out I saw him after his return a great many times, having been intimate with him and I have uniformly understood that he was a three years Man, & that he served his time out faithfully, he does not know a man now living who served with him my tour was eight months.
Rufus Buff
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me Geer Verby Justice of Peace
Before Rufus Buff Certificate in Elihu Geer

O. W. & N. DIV JUN 26 1831 CHIEF'S DESK

FROM ◇ The Hartford Printing Company, ◇ 16 State St. (ELIHU GEER'S SONS.) Job Printers. PUBLISHERS OF Geer's Hartford Directory, Assessors' Abstract Books, Tax Collectors' Books, Town Tax Lists. EVERETT S. GEER, PRES'T.
Hartford, Conn., June 23 d 1891
To Col. Chas W. Filer Pension Dept., Wash. D.C.
Dear Sir:
Mr. Charles T. Brown allowed me to use his name in introducing myself to you as the proper person to, and who would cheerfully furnish me with the information concerning my Great Grandfather's record as a Revolutionary Soldier. His name was Elihu Geer, he enlisted from Enfield, his widow, Eleanor Geer drew a pension, I find their names in the Conn. Book of Revolutionary Soldiers. Yours Very Truly Everett Selden Geer.